College football preview: Who owns L.A.? USC-UCLA 2015 predictions

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USC fans react after a touchdown against Utah during the first half of an NCAA college football game in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013.
(Photo by Keith Birmingham/Pasadena Star-News)

The UCLA Bruins host the Stanford Cardinal Friday November 28, 2014 in a college football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. (Will Lester/Staff Photographer)

UCLA has won the past three matchups against USC. Both schools had standout recruiting classes in the offseason. Here’s how our experts see the game playing out in 2015.

Game information

UCLA Bruins vs, USC Trojans

Saturday, Nov 28, 2015

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

Predictions:

Jack Wang, UCLA beat writer

Although USC has generated the bulk of the off-season buzz, Steve Sarkisian has never turned a talented roster into something greater than the sum of its parts. The Trojans should have more All-American candidates than UCLA, but Jim Mora has yet to lose a rivalry game. If true freshman quarterback Josh Rosen catches up to the learning curve, the Bruins have enough experience for a fourth straight win. Bruins, 34-31

Scott Wolf, USC beat writer

USC could not handle UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley the past three seasons but whoever replaces him will not be nearly as mobile. That alone should help the Trojans break their streak. If USC can’t win with a fifth-year senior quarterback (Cody Kessler), when can it?

Trojans, 42-41

Mark Whicker, columnist

USC will have the more experienced quarterback, a ton of motivation, and the full support of the rap-mogul community.

Trojans, 36-28

Vincent Bonsignore, columnist

When in doubt, always go with the team with the proven quarterback. That’s why USC will paint the Coliseum Cardinal and Gold after beating UCLA when the Trojans and Bruins renew their annual rivalry game. USC has the experience and moxie of Cody Kessler, UCLA will likely lean on true freshman Josh Rosen, whose time will come. But for now, Kessler is the man and the ultimate difference maker. Trojans, 31-17